The pair were among 11 defendants in the nine-day trial in Ho Chi Minh City, state media reported on Saturday, in a case that has highlighted Vietnam’s efforts to show it is stamping out corruption in the face of widespread public anger over the issue.

Vu Quoc Hao, 58, the one-time chief of a finance subsidiary of the state-owned Vietnam Agribank and building firm boss Dang Van Hai, 56, were sentenced to death on Friday, according to state television.